During the blood infection stage, pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α released by the host immune system play a decisive role in antimalarial immunity by regulating immune cell activation and pathogen clearance (Mitchell et al., 2005; Vigario et al., 2007). The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is infection.